Tropical depression dissipates, impacts Mexico
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Tropical Depression One-E, the first tropical system of the 2009 Eastern Pacific hurricane season, was declared dissipated by the National Hurricane Center at 5 pm PDT yesterday, but its remnants continue to impact Mexico. Ahead of the storm, advisories were posted for coastal areas. Shelters were prepared, but because the storm never broke tropical depression status, they were not opened.
Although it was a weak storm, it managed to drop heavy rainfall—measured in inches—and spawn gusty winds. Thousands of residents in the Mazatlán region were left in the dark, while several trees were downed throughout the city.
Numerous small villages were flooded, forcing the evacuation of some residents. Structures were also damaged. To assist in cleanup efforts, members of the Mexican army were deployed throughout Sinaloa. On some major roadways, landslides resulted in traffic accidents.
NOAA predicts the upcoming Pacific hurricane season will be below average, with 13 to 18 named storms, of which 6 to 10 are expected to become hurricanes. They define a "normal" season as having 15.3 named storms, with 8.8 hurricanes.
TD 1-E marked the earliest date in the year that a tropical cyclone had impacted the Mexican state of Sinaloa. Usually, such storms don't strike the area until August.
Sources
- Silber Meza. "Impacta a Sinaloa depresión atípica" — Noroeste, June 20, 2009
- Forecaster Beven. "Tropical Depression One-E Special Advisory Number 7" — National Hurricane Center, June 19, 2009
- Staff Writer. "Una depresión tropical alerta a Sinaloa" — El Debate, June 19, 2009
- Staff Writer. "Vigilan autoridades de Sinaloa comportamiento de depresión tropical" — SDP Noticas, June 19, 2009
- Staff Writer. "Evaluan daños de tormenta en Mazatlán" — Noroeste, June 19, 2009
- Staff Writer. "Causa estragos la depresión tropical en Mazatlán" — Noroeste, June 19, 2009
- Staff Writer. "Causa estragos la depresión tropical en Mazatlán" — Noroeste, June 19, 2009
- Forecasters Brennan and Berg. "Tropical Depression One-E Public Advisory One" — National Hurricane Center, June 18, 2009
- Climate Prediction Center, NOAA. "NOAA: 2008 Tropical Eastern North Pacific Hurricane Outlook" — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, May 21, 2009